Homework Help: math

Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, September 6, 2012 at 11:00am.

(a) Complete the square by writing in the form . Note: the numbers and can be positive or negative.

x^2-14x-17=(x-7)^2+

(b) Solve the equation by completing the square or using the quadratic formula. If there is more than one correct answer, enter your answers as a comma separated list. If there are no solutions, enter NONE.

x^2-14x-17=0

I keep getting this wrong but I dont know why.help please

math - Reiny, Thursday, September 6, 2012 at 12:05pm
x^2 - 14x + .... = 17 + ....
x^2 - 14x + 49 = 17+ 49
(x-7)^2 = 66
x-7 = ą √66
x = 7 ą √66

by formula:
x = (14 ą √(14^2 - 4(1)(-17))/2
= (14 ą √264)/2
= (14 ą 2√66)/2
= 7 ą √66

When the coefficient of x^2 is 1 and the middle term is even, I always use "completing the square" rather than the formula. Notice you get the answer already in simplified form

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